§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the four orders which came into force last year concerning the removal of antlers in velvet from live deer are sufficiently comprehensive and do not allow a loophole for abuse.
§ Mr. WigginI am satisfied that these orders have, as intended, prevented antlers in velvet being harvested from live farmed deer in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any antler velvet has been exported from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WigginThe Overseas trade statistics do not identify antler velvet separately, so that any such trade is not known. The taking of velvet from live farmed deer was banned in this country in July 1980.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many live deer have been exported over the last two years as breeding stock from the United Kingdom; and to what countries.
§ Mr. WigginThe information requested is not available since live deer are not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics.